Have you been considering dentures in Salt Lake City, UT? If so, come on in to Dental Designs of Salt Lake and meet with Dr. David Duke and his team for a free consultation today.

Below is some information about dentures along with its advatages and disadvantages. If you have any questions regarding dentures please feel free to give us a call at (801)355-2202.

What are Dentures?

Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth typically made out of an acrylic resin which at times incorporate porcelain or metal for additional structural support. There are two main types of dentures. Both Complete Dentures and Partial Dentures are finely crafted, custom-fitted. If you properly maintain your dentures they will appear natural and provide a perfect smile. Additionally, dentures help strengthen muscles controlling your expressions that require the support of your teeth, rid you of pronunciation problems caused by missing teeth and aid with chewing.

Who is a candidate for dentures?

If you’ve lost, or are losing, all of your teeth a Complete Denture is something to discuss with your cosmetic dentist. If some of your teeth remain and are healthy, a partial denture may be your way to a great smile.

This procedure should be thoroughly discussed with your dentist as there are several personal and medical factors to take into consideration. You may instead be a candidate for dental bridges and dental implants as optional procedures.

Types of Dentures

Complete Dentures

These replace all of your teeth, upper or lower. Their comfort depends on muscle, bones, tongue, and saliva. Patients begin wearing conventional dentures after healing the teeth that were pulled.

Immediate Dentures

Immediate Dentures are placed all at once, and may require additional adjustments after the healing process. It can take months for your bone and tissue to stabilize after tooth extractions.

Upper Dentures

Upper Dentures, tend to be a bit easier to adjust to. These are made of the same materials as a Complete Denture, but are designed to provide you with upper teeth only.

Over Dentures

Over Dentures are a type of conventional denture similar to Complete Dentures. The difference is that not all teeth are extracted and they use one or more natural teeth for their support. This type provides greater stabilization during chewing. Over Dentures cost more and typically require more preparation dental appointments until the procedure is fully complete.

Partial Dentures

Designed to correct the gaps in your smile when only some of your teeth are missing. Metal attachments anchor the dentures to your natural teeth. Partial Dentures maintain tooth alignment by preventing your remaining teeth from shifting. Partial Dentures can also help prevent your loss of more teeth due to decay or gum disease.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Dentures

Pros and Cons of a Dentures

Advantages:

Dentures definitely provide a great smile with a very natural appearance. They’re made of very durable materials and last very long when properly taken care of. Typically dentures last from five to ten years. They also correct several problems, from speech to chewing, for many patients.

Disadvantages:

There’s no doubt that dentures take a little getting used to. There is maintenance involved, and initial speech issues to overcome (these are temporary and last only a couple of days). Mouth irritation or sores may occur, but are usually caused by poor dental hygiene, and not removing your dentures when needed. It is common that your mouth changes over the life of your dentures, so even though they last long, they may need to be replaced to achieve a better fit before they are worn out. With a denture a person typically chews at only 15-23% efficiency compared to a person chewing with their natural teeth. In the case of a full upper denture, the upper palate is covered which can reduce taste of foods you’re chewing.

If you have been considering getting cosmetic crown work done in Salt Lake City, here is some information that will help you understand the procedure in which it is preformed.

What is a Crown?

A crown is like a cap that goes over a tooth preparation. Sometimes, when a tooth is very heavily restored, its multiple fillings may not look good or last long because even the strongest filling materials have their limitations. The most durable solution for restoring badly damaged teeth is to prepare the tooth for a crown. The crown not only protects remaining tooth structure, but also restores the original appearance of the tooth.

Procedure

Unlike fillings, crowns cannot be constructed in one visit. The dentist must first take impressions of your mouth to make some study models and also to construct temporary crowns, usually made of resin. Study models help the dentist plan the case. Every tooth is unique and will require the dentist to exercise judgement on where to trim the tooth and how much to trim. For cosmetic cases where tooth positions are changed by crowning, the dentist may have to discuss his plans with the patient before proceeding to the preparation stage.

Teeth which are still vital will feel sensitive when trimmed, so a local anaesthetic is usually given. This is to make space for the crown and adequate clearance is absolutely necessary. The thicker the crown, the stronger it is. Once the preparation is complete, the dentist takes an impression of the prepared teeth with a rubbery material. The final crowns will be fabricated on this impression. At the end of the crown preparation visit, temporary crowns are cemented to protect the remaining tooth structure.

When the permanent crown is completed in the laboratory (usually takes about a week), the temporary cowns are removed from the mouth to be replaced by the porcelain crown which is then permanently cemented over the prepared tooth. The crowning process is thus completed.

Crowns can be very simple or complex, depending on the condition of the mouth and the needs of the patient. Mobile teeth are not suitable for crowning. Teeth with bleeding gums will also affect the accuracy of the impression. For cosmetic realignment, a considerable amount of skill and experience are required.

Pictures:

If you have other questions you need answered or if you are interested in scheduling an appointment, you may contact Dr. David Duke of Dental Designs of Salt Lake City, Utah at 801-355-2202.

Dental Implants are a wonderful way to replace missing teeth. It can be used for replace one tooth or many. Dental implants may be slightly expensive but there is a noticeable shift in dental insurance and many insurance carriers now cover 50% of the cost.

Free Consultation

The first step is to schedule a FREE consultation with our Salt Lake City Dentist, Dr. David Duke. He will access the bone and surrounding tissues to determine if the missing tooth site is suitable for a dental implant.

Pre-approval of Dental Insurance Coverage

We want to ensure that there are no surprises when it comes to paying for a dental implant. We submit pre-approval claims to all insurances to make sure we understand the patient’s coverage. While there may be restrictions and exclusions on your dental plan, we do our best to apply insurance coverage to the treatment.

Placement of the Dental Implant and Healing Cap

This procedure is done in a completely sterile environment with the best technology available. Dr. Duke uses titanium implants and expert training to provide the gentlest placement possible. A cap is placed on the implant, which allows the gums to heal over the next few weeks.

Removal of the Cap and Impression for a Crown

After several weeks, the bone and implant will be examined for stability and strength. If it is approved, an impression will be made for a Dental Implant Crown. Our dental labs take an average of 1-2 weeks to make the final crown.

Placement of the Dental Implant Crown

The final visit will consist of placing the Implant Crown on the fully healed, permanent Dental Implant. Oral hygiene routines, speaking, and eating are not impaired or altered. Dental Implants offer the best tooth replacement option available. It is the best aesthetically pleasing, gentle, permanent solution!

We are located in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. David Duke offers free consultations to all those interested in receiving information about the procedure and meeting our staff. Check out our website for before and after photos and call us today!

1st Step: Dr. David Duke offers FREE Consultations to everyone interested in dental veneers. Every patient must have an exam and discuss their cosmetic preferences with the Dentist. The oral health of the patient and any malocclusion (crowding and incorrect bite) must be addressed before veneers will be recommended. An impression is taken of the upper and lower teeth and the lab will fabricate a wax model of the future veneers. The patient will be able to choose the style of veneer desired from our photo examples.

How many Dental Veneers do I need?

Many patients are interested in placing a veneer on one or two teeth to improve their appearance. While this can be done, we highly recommend placing veneers on each tooth seen when you smile. Some people have smaller mouths and may only have 4 or 6 teeth visible when smiling or talking. Others may have a “Julia Roberts” smile and need 6 to 10 veneers made. We use the best labs in Salt Lake City, Utah and we make our veneers as natural looking as the patient desires.

2nd Step: The patient will return to review and revise the wax model of the veneers. This is absolutely necessary to review with the patient because it provides a physical, visual example of the final result. Wax-ups, as they are called, provide the patient with a chance to review and change any part of the veneer that they don’t like. The size, shape, length, texture, or color will all be considered and the patient will be able to make educated decisions for their permanent veneers.

3rd Step: Once the look of the veneers is chosen, the patient will return for the veneer preparation visit. The Dentist will slightly reduce the chosen teeth and take the final impression for the lab. Temporary veneers are made in the office to replicate the permanent veneers. The patient will wear these for a few days while the lab creates the permanent veneers.

Note: Some patients may require Laser Gum Recontouring. When preparing for veneers, the gumline can be moved or re-shaped to prevent a “gummy smile” and the veneers will be made to sit perfectly along the gumline. We use a very gentle laser that promotes quick healing and little to no discomfort.

Actual Patient, Porcelain Veneers

4th Step: The temporary veneers are gently removed, the tooth is cleaned from any cement, and the Permanent Veneers are placed on the teeth with permanent cement. Any slight or small adjustments will be made by the dentist to ensure correct bite and esthetics of the teeth.

We welcome you to visit our office, meet our Dentist and Team members, and enjoy freshly baked cookies. Our FREE Consultations allow patients to discuss all treatment options with the Dentist and help us understand your unique desires. Feel free to check out our website for before and after photos and more information. At your convenience, call our Salt Lake City Dental Office at 801-355-2202 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!